Fat Nave Interview
Q: You were in a number of different groups in the DC area. What was the transition like approaching a solo career?
A: Freeing. Being in bands for me has had its ups and downs but the one constant has been learning so I have been able to continue to do that without any of the other dynamics that come with being in a band and wanting to adhere to some sort of democracy. I feel that only works for bands who become very successful so they become democratic to keep it all running smoothly or adhere to the hierarchy that got them so successful. No one wants to hear if you have a vision for the music if it's not making anyone any money which to some musicians can equal approval or respect. But you have to follow your vision even if it's at the behest of money and other people's ideas for you or your music. So here I am.
Q: You are also a writer and film director. Is there any overlap between the two mediums such as the creative process and beyond?
A: Somewhat. Every song is a story and I think that writing a lot of longer form stories can make it more daunting to be a better storyteller as a musician and condense themes and ideas into shorter narratives. I think becoming better at anything is just a matter of doing it over and over again. I love the creative process of them both but as far as beyond, that is the banging your head against the wall part. Mainly because my experience has seen the competitiveness and the saturation of the market that is the same for music and films these days. Unless you know people or find yourself with a fortunate leg up or simply have wonderful career karma, it is tough. I'm much more comfortable calling myself a musician than a filmmaker because that is something true no matter what, where as in actuality I have only made one film and then spent five years trying to make the next one and get funding and nothing came of it so I have put all my efforts these days into music. Even if the journey towards exposure and distribution is just as arduous the road there is less stressful and more fulfilling because of the more freeing aspect of creating and playing music.
Q: Apparently you distilled over forty songs down to three for your EP I. Did you ever consider releasing a full length?
A: No, because I simply could not afford it. To be honest I could barely afford the three songs that we did but I knew that it would sound great and I really wanted to work with Randy so I said screw it let's have an experience and see what happens. Some guys at this point in their lives get the big TV or finance the motorcycle, well I did this. It would have been great to have created a full-length album with this project but it just was not in the cards.
Q: Can you talk a little about the creative process for I?
I had just come out of a band that fell apart in the studio and wanted to do something different. I hooked up with Randy and spent some time talking about music and songwriting and then creating lots of songs that we would toss some out and then do the same and then do it again over the course of like a year. Randy was very specific about what he wanted and I was just enjoying the process of showing him all the songs that I thought had potential. I mean Randy has worked with a lot of seasoned musicians as well as some famous ones so I was happy to be under his wing learning some things about song writing and lyrics. He paid attention to my lyrics in a way that no one had and that helped my confidence. As has the review on this website and your insightful questions! I brought songs that never got recorded with past bands or just songs that were sketches that never saw the light of day and wrote new ones. Being married and living in the world today I think can give a receptive artist a lot of material! I brought all that to the table and then narrowed it to three. Randy arranged the band and the players and after that it was just a few months before everything was done.
Q: I thought the lyrics were largely motivational, hopeful and even spiritual in an Eckhart Tolle type of way. What are some of the themes that run through the three songs?
A: Dropping the Eckhart Tolle. Nice! Yes very good catch as the Power of Now is a deep vein in my life. I definitely enjoy a lot of spiritual literature along with a lot of the mystical tenants of all of the religions and philosophies from different cultures and all those kinds of things make their way into songwriting but in a very stripped down sort of way of course. I certainly have been influenced by some wonderful song writers like John Lennon and Bob Dylan and Eddie Vedder and the one thing that a lot of those guys have in common is a little bit more uplifting themes. Dark and searching songs certainly have their place and certain dark phrases play a good part in the arc of a song but I moved away from simply depressing songs a long time ago because I don't feel that other people can get anything out of that other than the same feeling that you put into it when writing it. So for the most part a lot of my songs are attempts at either telling the story of a person or a real or fake situation or getting through something while staying positive but with metaphors and an artistic bent within its delivery.
Q: Three songs left your fans hungry for more. What can we expect in 2017?
A: More music. I have myself in a piano/synthy phase since hooking up with a Roland Juno keyboard and becoming quite obsessed with it some time ago. The music I am largely involved with now is a bit of a departure from the stuff I played in the past and even the stuff on the I EP. A little edgier with more percussive beats and driving rhythms. Looking towards a full length but at this point in time I'm doing everything I can to get out there more and create more fans and eventually get out performing. I don't have a band so I'm just looking to do shows right now with piano and guitar and see what happens performing solo for now. Whether or not I get the opportunity to distribute future music with help from bigger ups or if I have to arrange it myself and produce it again and self-release it remains to be seen but one or the other will definitely happen later this year. I feel confident that I could put something out on my own that sounds pretty good based on the fact that what I have in my basement to record on is better than what the Beatles had in Abbey Road in the ‘60s but of course it can't touch what is in Abbey Road now. Then again a lot of stuff today sounds overproduced. So we'll see. The I EP project has been awesome and the result is great and professional and that is how I wanted the first impression of Fat Nave to be but the music is not entirely representational of the musical entity that I feel that I am. I'm just getting started. I know I will keep going and keep making music and keep putting it out there and eventually I'll break out of the circle and get into a more exposed rhythm. I have some examples up on my SoundCloud page of the direction I'm heading while I'm patiently looking for a band to help fill out the vision.
Q: You were in a number of different groups in the DC area. What was the transition like approaching a solo career?
A: Freeing. Being in bands for me has had its ups and downs but the one constant has been learning so I have been able to continue to do that without any of the other dynamics that come with being in a band and wanting to adhere to some sort of democracy. I feel that only works for bands who become very successful so they become democratic to keep it all running smoothly or adhere to the hierarchy that got them so successful. No one wants to hear if you have a vision for the music if it's not making anyone any money which to some musicians can equal approval or respect. But you have to follow your vision even if it's at the behest of money and other people's ideas for you or your music. So here I am.
Q: You are also a writer and film director. Is there any overlap between the two mediums such as the creative process and beyond?
A: Somewhat. Every song is a story and I think that writing a lot of longer form stories can make it more daunting to be a better storyteller as a musician and condense themes and ideas into shorter narratives. I think becoming better at anything is just a matter of doing it over and over again. I love the creative process of them both but as far as beyond, that is the banging your head against the wall part. Mainly because my experience has seen the competitiveness and the saturation of the market that is the same for music and films these days. Unless you know people or find yourself with a fortunate leg up or simply have wonderful career karma, it is tough. I'm much more comfortable calling myself a musician than a filmmaker because that is something true no matter what, where as in actuality I have only made one film and then spent five years trying to make the next one and get funding and nothing came of it so I have put all my efforts these days into music. Even if the journey towards exposure and distribution is just as arduous the road there is less stressful and more fulfilling because of the more freeing aspect of creating and playing music.
Q: Apparently you distilled over forty songs down to three for your EP I. Did you ever consider releasing a full length?
A: No, because I simply could not afford it. To be honest I could barely afford the three songs that we did but I knew that it would sound great and I really wanted to work with Randy so I said screw it let's have an experience and see what happens. Some guys at this point in their lives get the big TV or finance the motorcycle, well I did this. It would have been great to have created a full-length album with this project but it just was not in the cards.
Q: Can you talk a little about the creative process for I?
I had just come out of a band that fell apart in the studio and wanted to do something different. I hooked up with Randy and spent some time talking about music and songwriting and then creating lots of songs that we would toss some out and then do the same and then do it again over the course of like a year. Randy was very specific about what he wanted and I was just enjoying the process of showing him all the songs that I thought had potential. I mean Randy has worked with a lot of seasoned musicians as well as some famous ones so I was happy to be under his wing learning some things about song writing and lyrics. He paid attention to my lyrics in a way that no one had and that helped my confidence. As has the review on this website and your insightful questions! I brought songs that never got recorded with past bands or just songs that were sketches that never saw the light of day and wrote new ones. Being married and living in the world today I think can give a receptive artist a lot of material! I brought all that to the table and then narrowed it to three. Randy arranged the band and the players and after that it was just a few months before everything was done.
Q: I thought the lyrics were largely motivational, hopeful and even spiritual in an Eckhart Tolle type of way. What are some of the themes that run through the three songs?
A: Dropping the Eckhart Tolle. Nice! Yes very good catch as the Power of Now is a deep vein in my life. I definitely enjoy a lot of spiritual literature along with a lot of the mystical tenants of all of the religions and philosophies from different cultures and all those kinds of things make their way into songwriting but in a very stripped down sort of way of course. I certainly have been influenced by some wonderful song writers like John Lennon and Bob Dylan and Eddie Vedder and the one thing that a lot of those guys have in common is a little bit more uplifting themes. Dark and searching songs certainly have their place and certain dark phrases play a good part in the arc of a song but I moved away from simply depressing songs a long time ago because I don't feel that other people can get anything out of that other than the same feeling that you put into it when writing it. So for the most part a lot of my songs are attempts at either telling the story of a person or a real or fake situation or getting through something while staying positive but with metaphors and an artistic bent within its delivery.
Q: Three songs left your fans hungry for more. What can we expect in 2017?
A: More music. I have myself in a piano/synthy phase since hooking up with a Roland Juno keyboard and becoming quite obsessed with it some time ago. The music I am largely involved with now is a bit of a departure from the stuff I played in the past and even the stuff on the I EP. A little edgier with more percussive beats and driving rhythms. Looking towards a full length but at this point in time I'm doing everything I can to get out there more and create more fans and eventually get out performing. I don't have a band so I'm just looking to do shows right now with piano and guitar and see what happens performing solo for now. Whether or not I get the opportunity to distribute future music with help from bigger ups or if I have to arrange it myself and produce it again and self-release it remains to be seen but one or the other will definitely happen later this year. I feel confident that I could put something out on my own that sounds pretty good based on the fact that what I have in my basement to record on is better than what the Beatles had in Abbey Road in the ‘60s but of course it can't touch what is in Abbey Road now. Then again a lot of stuff today sounds overproduced. So we'll see. The I EP project has been awesome and the result is great and professional and that is how I wanted the first impression of Fat Nave to be but the music is not entirely representational of the musical entity that I feel that I am. I'm just getting started. I know I will keep going and keep making music and keep putting it out there and eventually I'll break out of the circle and get into a more exposed rhythm. I have some examples up on my SoundCloud page of the direction I'm heading while I'm patiently looking for a band to help fill out the vision.